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This content was subject to assurance by SGS Italia S.p.A. (14 March 2014).

Full engagement in prevention

Health and safety conditions at Group facilities depend on the interconnection of preventive measures and a collaborative approach that recognizes that employees, regardless of their role or responsibilities within the organization, have a duty to contribute to the dissemination and maintenance of the highest possible standards in the workplace by the way they behave.

Employees are involved in activities focused on safety through training and initiatives geared toward increasing their awareness, which are supported by a formal system for the collection of suggestions. During 2013, about 1.3 million suggestions from employees were received. 149,000 of these were about ways to improve health and safety conditions. The best suggestions have been adopted and implemented

and the idea owners recognized for their efforts. This significant level of employee participation demonstrates how widely and strongly the commitment is shared within the Group.

Combining proactive and preventive approaches has enabled the Group to capitalize on specific projects and initiatives that have established themselves over time as best practice, and have become an integral part of Fiat Group's Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS).

During the year, more than 5,000 audits (+100% compared with 2012) were completed (of which 122 external, representing an improvement of 85% compared with 2012) covering a total of about 150,000 employees.

From 2009 to 2013, WCM was implemented in a total of 300 supplier sites (of which 218 in EMEA, 70 in LATAM and 12 in NAFTA).

World Class Manufacturing: the Safety pillar

The World Class Manufacturing Safety pillar aims to contribute to the continuous improvement of the work environment and to progressively reduce all objective and behavioral risks that could result in accidents, injuries and occupational diseases. The basic principle of this pillar is that these objectives can be achieved only by creating and disseminating a genuine culture of shared safety throughout the entire organization.

A strong leadership that is expressed through the direct involvement of senior management in setting clear and measurable objectives and the motivation and engagement of all employees are essential ingredients to achieve the highest health and safety standards like those set by the Safety pillar.

Leadership and engagement promote the dissemination of the company’s vision and fundamental values in the field of health and safety at all levels, as well as the strategies for intervention and the results to be reached. A crucial role is played by the training and education of all workers as a part of the objectives set in the Skills Development pillar.

The scope for the implementation of the pillar is not limited solely to the plant level, but also includes suppliers, third-party companies and other entities along the value chain.

The Safety pillar allows for the sharing of objectives specific to each plant area and the clear and transparent communication of indicators to monitor whether these are achieved.

The Safety pillar’s objectives are:

elimination or drastic reduction of the risk of accidents, injuries and occupational diseases

development of a corporate culture of health and safety in the workplace

constant improvement of ergonomics in the workplace, including redesigning workstations through worker feedback

development of specific professional skills in the field of occupational health and safety

creation of intrinsically safe workstations and equipment starting from the design phase

elimination or minimization of environmental pollution in the production unit

adoption and consolidation of safe behaviors by workers both at and outside the workplace.

The Safety pillar is oriented toward direct worker engagement in prevention, with the support of management and the awareness that a genuine culture of safety requires the active involvement of the people who every day face operational issues that may entail health and safety risks.